AI data centers now demand up to 1,000 MW, a 200x jump in power
Olivier__OG · x · 2026-09-23
University of Texas professor Michael Webber, speaking on 60 Minutes, highlights the scale of today's AI data centers: what once required 5 megawatts can now demand as much as 1,000 megawatts — roughly a 200x increase in power.
The challenge is no longer just building smarter models, but finding enough electricity, water and land to support them without overwhelming local communities. The next AI race, he argues, is not just about compute but about sustainable scale.
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